My name is Loh Kiwan is Kim Hee-jin's directorial debut, and it stars Song Joong-ki (Vincenzo) as the titular character, Choi Sung-eun (The Sound of Magic) as co-lead character Lee Marie, and Cho Han-cheul (who just featured in Gyeongseong Creature season 1) as Lee Youn-sung, Lee Marie's father.
My Name is Loh Kiwan narrates the story of a North Korean defector who attempts to start a new life in China and later Belgium, prompting the question of whether the Netflix Korean film is based on a true story.
Loh Kiwan quits North Korea with his mother and settles in China, where his challenges as an immigrant begin. My Name is Loh Kiwan, one of the more intriguing titles on Netflix's 2024 K-content slate, is an emotional story about the titular girl, whom viewers soon connect with.
The film also chronicles the adventures of Lee Marie, a former athlete whom Loh meets in Belgium. Lee is similarly searching for her place in the world following a personal tragedy. Their adventures bring them together in this character-driven Korean film, available on Netflix.
As viewers delve into the gripping story of Loh Kiwan, the question arises: Is this Netflix series based on a true story? In this article, we will explore the origins of “My Name is Loh Kiwan” and decipher whether it draws inspiration from real-life events.
Is My Name is Loh Kiwan Based on True Story?
Although My Name is Loh Kiwan is not based on a true story, it is inspired by Cho Haejin's I Met Loh Kiwan, a short book published in 2011. The 136-page book is told from the perspective of Kim, a writer for a South Korean television show.
Kim begins to explore Loh Kiwan's story after hearing them discuss his discovery on television. Netflix's My Name is Loh Kiwan adaptation employs the same storytelling approach, but the film emphasizes Loh Kiwan's point of view to make the story as intimate as possible.
Naturally, when researching the film, director Kim Hee-jin must have considered real-life situations and events to give My Name is Loh Kiwan greater depth.
Read More: Is the Boys in the Boat Based on a True Story?
Despite the logical nature of the topic, My Name is Loh Kiwan focuses on the titular character's experiences and tribulations in China and Belgium rather than Korea's political and military environment.
The film is narrated from the perspective of an immigrant on an emotional journey. My Name Is Loh Kiwan also features a love story between Loh and Lee.
